About 75 teen
drivers, ages 14 to 18, participated in today’s Ford Driving Skills for Life(DSFL) event at Gambucci Arena in Grand Forks. The event is a free,
hands-on traffic safety program for new drivers and provides participants a
chance to be involved in multiple traffic safety activities such as:

A ride and drive exercise targeting distracted driving;
learning how to back up a trailer; and blind spot training.

Interactive learning experiences with many different types of
simulators such as virtual reality goggles showing the importance of buckling
up; a seatbelt convincer; a battery-powered vehicle simulating the effects of
impaired and distracted driving; an activity mat focusing on distracted driving
and much more.

“Teens were able to experience hazardous driving situations
in a safe and controlled environment. Wearing impaired driving goggles, texting
while driving and seatbelt convincers opened their eyes to the tragedies that
could occur when driving isn’t taken seriously,” stated Ashlee Doan, Safety
Public Information Specialist with the North Dakota Department of
Transportation (NDDOT). “It is not just your life you are putting at risk when
you make poor decisions while driving, you are jeopardizing the lives of others
as well.”

The purpose of this safety event is to teach newly licensed
drivers the necessary skills for safer driving and the importance of making
good decisions while driving.

Vehicle crashes
are the leading cause of death for teens in America. Last year in North Dakota,
one teen driver crash occurred every three hours. North Dakota traffic safety
partners recognize the importance of educating teen drivers on how to improve
their driving skills and brought the Ford DSFL safety event to Grand
Forks.